INTRODUCTION 177

of a new type belonging in all probability to Kanishka. As regards the
gold coinage, there are a fine double stater of Vima Kadphises, and a few
specimens of the rarer types of Kanishka and Huvishka. But on the
whole the gold Kushan issues are very inadequately represented, and
the Collection in this respect is immeasurably inferior to the superb
British Museum Cabinet. However, as I have already remarked in
the Introduction to the first Section, it must be remembered that
the British Museum contains Sir Alexander Cunningham's entire
Collection, and Cunningham's Collection represents the cream of the
entire output of Indo-Greek coins for more than fifty years (1840-
1895 appro®.).

A word as to forgeries. Mr. Vincent Smith mentions certain very
clever forgeries of rare Kushan gold coins which were so well executed
that they could be ascribed with confidence to the skill of a Rawalpindi
dealer who was able sometimes to deceive the very elect, including
Sir Alexander Cunningham himself—Z M. Gat., vol. i, p. 65. The
Lahore Museum Cabinet of Forgeries contains one or two of the
original dies from which these imitations were struck. A numis-
matist who has the advantage of collecting in India itself, and is
in constant touch with the Rawalpindi dealers, can generally detect
even the best of their manufactures. But Mr. J. Allan has pointed
out to me that some of the most realistic forgeries go back to earlier
years. The Kushan gold coins in the British Museum, most of
which came from Cunningham, do not include a single specimen of
the characteristic Rawalpindi imitations. A few gold forgeries kept
in the British Museum Cabinet have been there more than, sixty
years. One of these, a coin of Vasu Deva, is illustrated in Asiatic
Researches, vol. xvii (1832). Cunningham wrote about forgeries as
early as 1842. It is probable that some of the imitations to which
Mr. Vincent Smith refers, were made before the days of the dealer
he suspects.

As regards the Rawalpindi dealers, it must be remembered that
the best of the genuine coins and other antiques still pass through
their hands. They are well known throughout the Frontier, they
constantly visit the likely find spots, and spare no pains in acquiring
valuable specimens.

Several of the rarer Kushan gold types are forged, but I have never
seen a forged copper coin.